Illinois State Capitol Complex Cooling Towers Undergoing Disinfection

Legionella bacteria has been detected in an office building and the cooling towers are undergoing disinfection

Cooling towers are being disinfected following the detection of legionella bacteria

After legionella bacteria was detected, cooling towers in an office building at the Illinois State Capitol complex in Springfield, Ill., are undergoing disinfection. The Illinois Secretary of State’s office sent out a statement warning that the bacteria was detected in a cooling tower of the Stratton Building, according to the Associated Press.

Illinois State Capitol buildings have been undergoing testing for legionella ever since the bacteria was discovered in the Illinois State Armory in early January 2018. Thus far, other capitol complex cooling towers have shown negative tests for the legionella and the water quality in the buildings remain acceptable.

Legionella, the bacteria behind Legionnaires’ disease, is more common in the summertime and likely to form in warm, stagnant water. The Illinois government had another recent encounter with the bacteria, and ultimately the disease, when an outbreak occurred at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, Ill.